Although he’s not originally from the area, Ron Jones has formed deep roots in the community and believes in the area’s arts legacy.
The founder of the Columbia County Ballet first came to the area in the 1970s when he danced professionally with the Augusta Ballet. Jones will strengthen those roots as his ballet company adopts the name of the Augusta Ballet this fall.
“They approached us a couple of years ago to see if we would be interested in taking the name,” said Jones. “This will keep the legacy of the Augusta Ballet.”
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A letter announcing the change was scheduled to be emailed to Augusta Ballet’s board of directors Aug. 8. The name change officially took place June 30.
Jones had been dancing professionally in the 1970s when he and his wife, Kathleen, were looking for a place to raise their three children, he said. After dancing with the Augusta Ballet and later as a traveling guest performer, he began his own ballet studio and performing company in Martinez in 1985. It has been known by several names during its lifetime. Its signature performance is the annual spring production of “The Roar of Love” based on the C.S. Lewis work, “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.”
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The Augusta Ballet was founded in 1964 and was affiliated with the Augusta Ballet School on Walton Way for many years.
“From the beginning, it was a performing ballet company with dancers, set designers, choreographers and a school for dance. And, for over 40 years, the ballet company was highly recognized for its achievements, and in 2003 changed its mission and became a presenting company,” according to the Augusta Ballet’s website.
At that time, the non-profit organization known as Augusta Ballet divided from the Augusta Ballet School and its dancers. In 2016, the entity formerly known as the Augusta Ballet School was renamed the Colton Ballet Co. in memory of Ron Colton, who founded the Augusta Ballet in 1964, who died that same year.
Zanne Colton, the artistic director of the Colton Ballet Co., wished Jones, her former dance partner, well, but said name changes can often bring confusion as she has experienced first hand.
Both Colton and Jones said Augusta Ballet offered Colton the opportunity to take the name back, but Colton said she declined because her organization had moved on from its association with Augusta Ballet and is pleased with the current name that honors Ron Colton’s memory.
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After the Colton Ballet Co. and the Augusta Ballet parted ways, the Augusta Ballet attempted to be a presenting company bringing in performers from out of the area such as the “Martha Graham Dance Company, Aspen-Santa Fe Ballet Company, Ballet Hispanico, MOMIX Botanica and The American Ballet Studio Company. Our New Traditions Dance Festivalin January 2016 featured Dance Theatre of Harlem at The Bell playing to the largest and most diverse audience in Augusta’s history,” according to the Augusta Ballet website.
However, the organization struggled to remain viable, especially during the pandemic.
“Our goal has been to minimize administrative and operational expenses as not to deplete our existing funds or burden our donors. The challenge we have experienced recently on business owners, our community in general, and the arts and charitable foundations has suggested that now may be an opportune time to consolidate,” said the letter to Augusta Ballet supporters.
Under the terms of the merger, the performing company will be known as Augusta Ballet, while Jones’ school on Furys Ferry Road will remain Columbia County Ballet.
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“This immergence promises to enrich both organizations and to allow the Augusta Ballet to join the Columbia County Ballet in its focus on our community’s youth and their talents. Ron and Kathleen Jones, Artistic Directors, are honored to continue the legacy of the Augusta Ballet
through its merger with the Columbia County Ballet,” the letter continued.
The company recently hired Michael Viator, a Columbia County Ballet alumnus who has danced with Ballet Magnificat and worked with a preprofessional company in Iowa, and his wife, Olivia.
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The company’s first production of the season is called “Freedom” and will be Sept. 11 at the Memorial Gardens Amphitheater behind the Evans Library. It’s part of Columbia County’s “9/11 Day of Remembrance,” which begins at 6:45 p.m.
Augusta Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” Dec. 10 at the new Columbia County Performing Arts Center and will move “The Roar of Love” from the Bell Auditorium to the Columbia County Performing Arts Center in May.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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